Friday, June 24, 2016

See all the beautiful original submissions!

Congratulations on winning the May and June challenges. Your bracelet and necklaces were a wonderful realization of the themes.

I see you have a fondness for the whimsical in your jewelry. How do you come up with your designs?

My
designs are almost always inspired by my components. I love
components!! I rarely set out with very much of a plan other than a few
key components laid out then it grows from there. This can sometimes
backfire because sometimes I get many hours put in in and then I will
want to do something else that wont work because of bad planning. This
does however push me to get creative sometimes: "how can I make this
work without taking it apart."I
love your May challenge piece, it interpreted the theme beautifully in a way
that wasn't overdone. The energy of the gemstones make it seem magical.
I found a few rough gemstones in Colorado when I was there years ago.
Do you ever use found stones or objects in your work?

I
have a collection of found objects, I have a collection of all kinds of
things that I see as "beading components" that I will "use someday" Your
jewelry is bold, colorful and fanciful, and carries well over distance.
do you have a theatrical background, or other training in the arts?

I
don't have any "training" in any of the arts. I was in a few shows
during my first attempt at college. I love theater, and I would get into
it again if I had the time and/or there was community theater where I
live.

The materials and style of
jewelry sometimes encourage a first hand look. Do you have any other
outlet like galleries or craft shows that allow people to see your work
in person, and possibly drive sales to your Etsy shop as well?

I
am a terrible sales person! Once in a while I bring out my dog related
pieces to a dog show, but I rarely even attempt to sell things. I am not
a very good business woman! I would rather invest the time in making
more things. As a result though, I don't sell much. My next step in that
kind of growth is to learn better photography.Do you have a favorite stitch to use or type of jewelry to make?

I
am addicted to Bead embroidery now. There are no rules. I can use any
components, any beads, and it is very forgiving... there are no
"mistakes"How long have you been making jewelry, and is it your main focus in crafts or life?

I
started playing with beads when I was about 12. I had recently acquired
a step sister who was about my age, and she taught me the basic brick
stitch earrings she had learned. Then for my birthday she and my step
mom gave me my first little red toolbox with my first needles, and
pliers and a few beads. But I only discovered BE about 5 years ago and
that was the game changer. I wouldn't even say jewelry is my main focus
with beads. I like to make "bead paintings" and I have big ambitions of
making something sculptural soon! It's not my MAIN focus in life... It
is probably tied with Newfoundlands. (hence some Newfy pieces in my
beadwork.)

What are some of the challenges and joys you have faced with respect to your jewelry making and Etsy shop sales?

I
barely have any sales in my etsy shop. Actually, the only reason I even
opened one was to participate in the challenges. I think I have only
had 6 sales since opening. But again, I am bad at marketing. The
challenge has been to not worry about sales, and trying to make
something that someone might buy. When I am driven by sales, I just get
depressed that my stuff isn't selling, I tell myself "nobody likes my
stuff." Instead, I just make things that _I_ like to make. that I WANT
To make... if it sells, cool, if not, it is just added to MY collection. :)Who is your favorite artist, be it in beads, painting or even music?

I
am lucky to live near, and consider myself to be friends with two of
the BEST bead artists in the universe: Kinga Nichols, and Heidi Kummli.
Heidi was my first B.E. teacher, I am amazed by everything she makes.
She has a knack for finding really unique components. I was honored to
be invited to her first Shaman Bead Workshop, at her house which was
amazing!! A very small group (5 I think) and two days spent up at
Heidi's house in the most beautiful location!! (to me anyway, because I
am a 'Mountain Kid') I met Kinga shortly after taking up BE, and I saw
that she lived in the same town as me. at first I was intimidated by her
awesomeness! Her work is incredible! The colors!! The textures!!! the
critters!!! Turned out she was also simply amazing as a person!!!

And
my sister. She is my favorite artist. She can do anything. She often
helps me with designs, has made several components for me when I can't
find exactly what I want, she makes it for me!! She can draw better than
I can, so she has often sketched out my bigger ideas for me to work
with. She is actually my favorite person in general. :)

Is there anything else you would like to add or say to the EBW community?

Thank
you all for being awesome!!! The people I have met in the bead
community, the friends I have made in this community are all awesome!
Nice! Supportive!!! It's a fantastic loving community!!! THANK YOU !!!

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Here are the entries for this month's "CATS" challenge!
VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM JUNE 9TH UNTIL JUNE 15. Please choose your favorite entry
from the images or links
below, then select your choice in the blog poll that will appear on the right sidebar during the days that voting is open.

Click on the image mosaic or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece.

Monday, June 6, 2016

As beaders, we each develop little habits, or even manias, around our
hobby. Products are created for us, some better than others, and
practice has led us to see the flaws in them. Most of us have learned
ways of modifying or adapting the use of these products to get a ‘just
right’ beading experience that suits our particular styles. This time
around, I asked team members what they preferred as beading surfaces.
There are no ‘right’ methods to beading, we all simply prefer different
things!
Patrice Thomas (https://www.etsy.com/shop/MsBusyHands)
shared that her favorite beading surface was a small, round metal
sewing can with a hinged lid and that she has been using it for 15
years! “I have never beaded on a mat. I store my current project along
with the beads, needles and threads inside the can and when I'm ready to
work the lid of the can becomes my work surface. The can is well worn
and really needs to be replaced. I will admit that sometimes I'm
embarrassed to take it out in public. I have not replaced it because I
have not been able to find a suitable replacement. This is my favorite
thing because it works for me, it allows me to do what I love anywhere I
am. When I teach beading classes I bead on the lid while my students
bead on a mat. It fits in my purse and travels with me, even on
vacations. It makes my beading portable, me productive and when I'm
beading in public, it often sparks conversations which gives me an
opportunity to tell my story about the can and share my love of
beading!”

Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (https://www.etsy.com/shop/scarboro)
responded with a conflicting comment pinning Bead-On-It boards versus
vellux blanket scraps. Bead-On-It boards were invented and are made by
Dee Pyatte (http://www.beadonitboards.com/index.html)
and consist of a circular vellux sheet sown to a thicker velvet border,
which unlike with just a piece of the material, keeps beads from
rolling away too far when there is movement. Elizabeth had previously
attempted to stick her vellux scrap piece inside a cookie thin, but had
an issue when the beads would roll to the edges and hide underneath with
movement. She much preferred the Bead-On-It board.

Her opinion was the
same as Pamela E. Troutman’s (https://www.etsy.com/shop/STARARTjewelry) who believes a Bead-On-It board is only comparable to a Swarovski mat, which comes with a printed ruler- so useful!

Christine Boyer, team captain, (https://www.etsy.com/shop/beadn4fun)
uses a homemade system: “I gather all the beads for each project into a
cigar box (only about a dollar from local cigar shops) lined with a $1
velour bead mat. It's easy to keep everything together and even take
along with me. My other favorite thing is that little souvenir state
spoon. I bought a couple at a yard sale once and find it perfect for
spooning out beads and putting them back. And speaking of bargains, my
favorite needles are Beadalon's size 12 hard beading needles (from
Michaels). They are perfect for going through size 11 & 15 seed
beads, last a long time, and cost only about $4 for a dozen! I'd rather
spend the big money on beads, everything else is a bargain for me!” Who
knew a little spoon bought at a yard sale could become so essential to a
beading routine!

Lastly remains my own favorite things (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HumdrumAuguries).
I use my oh-so-special beading “plate” for laying out the beads I need
without having them roll away. I came upon the following beading tray
long before my beading years. As a baby, I used to eat out of it this,
now it serves me a completely new purpose. As I am still a
Winnie-The-Pooh fan, I cherish the memories in this favorite thing,
every time I bead.

I am personally addicted to the Tulip
Beading Needles, in the incredibly small yet sturdy size 13. As I work
mostly with 15/0 seed beads, these needles allow me to pass through a
bead many times without breaking the bead with needle pressure. I keep
my needles in their little vial in my travel beading set up that I have
organized myself. I can keep all the beading tubes I need for a project
as well as a small vellux mat, rolled up to the right. This travel kit
was given to me by my sweetheart. It originally contained wire jewelry
tools, but he knew I would be clever enough to repurpose each little
elastic holster for beadweaving supplies!

Thank you
everyone who has participated in giving me your input. Comment below on
or facebook! Do you share these members’ favorite things? Use something
else? We want to know!

About Etsy Beadweavers

Etsy Beadweavers is a group of beaders who market their creations on Etsy.com. The Beadweavers' creations are different from many of the traditional beaded items, in that they are woven from hundreds or thousands of tiny beads to create intricate designs and pictures. These weavings take the form of both art and jewelry. Each piece takes many hours to complete, with some larger pieces taking weeks or even months.

This blog is devoted to the creations of this group of talented artisans.